Game apparatus.



GEORGE W. WALK, GF GGNNEAUTVILLE, PENNSYLVANIA.

no. versare.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 15, 1905.

Application filed December 7, 1904. Serial No. 235,861.

rb a/ZZ wiz/0111, may concern: 4

Be it known that l, GEORGE W. WALK, of Gonneautville, in the county of Crawford and @tate of Pennsylvania, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in G ame Apparatus; and l hereby declare that the followingis a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form part of this specification.

This invention is an improved game apparatus of the class in which a series of objects located at one end of an alley are to be struck by balls rolled along the alley by hand, as in ordinary tenpins.

,l he object of the present invention is to provide a novel construction of the alley and targets or objects to be struck by the balls, such as will increase the interest of the players and lref niire skill in winning the game.

Another object of the invention is to provide means for resetting the targets or objects and for returning' the balls to theplayer.

The present invention consists in the novel :features of construction of the alley, novel construction and arrangement of the objects to be struck, and in novel resetting' devices, all of which are hereinafter described in detail and will be readily understood by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the complete table. Fig. 2 is an enlarged vertical section through the object end of the apparatus. Fig. 3 is a transverse section online 3 3, Fig. 2.

lhe table or alley A may be constructed of any suitable material affording a hard noiseless surface and is provided with side grooves a, a, which will direct a badly-aimed ball into the bottom of the target-easing B at the rear end of the table, the balls entering the casing dropping onto an inclined chute C, by which they are directed into a ball-return track G of ordinary construction, along which they pass to the forward end of the table.

ln the lower part of casing B and at the upper end of chute C is a buffer D, which is hinged. at bottom and held in forward position by a spring' D. Said buffer may be padded, as at LZ, and is adapted to absorb the force and impact of the balls and direct them onto the chute C. In case any spent ball drops off the alley A into the casing a short inclined board c is arranged to direct such spent ball onto the upper part of chute C, so that it will acquire sufficient momentum in descending said chute to return to the front of alley.

At the front of the target-casing Band just above the alley are a series of pivoted targets E, four being shown, arranged side by side and depending toward the surface of the alley, so that if a proper-sized ball B is rolled directly thereunder it will rock the target on its pivot. Preferably, also, the targets are set so near together that if a ball passes directly between any two adjacent targets (excepting the two center ones) it will trip both. The center targets cannot be tripped simultaneously, however, because l provide a central detiecting-groove a/ in the rear end of the alley, which groove will direct a ball between the targets without striking them, and such groove is a feature of the alley which materially increases the difliculty of the game.

Arranged in the casing B in rear of and above the targets are a corresponding'number of vertically movable bars F, which are guided in suitable openings in boards or plates l l in the casing. Each bar F has a hook f on its lower end adapted to engage a catch e on the upper end of the adjacent target E, so that when a ball strikes such target the hook is caused to disengage the bar, and the latter thereupon is thrown upward by means of a spring F', as shown. wW hen the bars are depressed, the catch automatically rengag'es the hook, such engagement being facilitated by a helical spring f', interposed between and connected to the casing and upper end of target, as shown in Fig. 2.

Above each target and at the upper part of casing is a display-signal Gr, which may be of any fanciful form. Said signals are hinged at their lower ends to the front of the casing, as at y, and each is provided with a rearwardly-projecting hiig or bracket G', pivotally connected by a link F2 with the upper end of the adjacent bar F. The parts are so proportioned that-when the bar is down the signal is out of sight; but when the target is struck and the bar released the signal will be raised, as indicated in the drawings. In order to reset any displayed signal and targ'et, a rocksha'ft H is mounted in the casing in rear of the bars, and to this shaft are attached arms or lingers it, which project forward beside the bars and are adapted to engage pins F3 on the sides of the bars when the latter are raised. Upon rocking shaft H, so as te depress the lingers t, the latter engage pins F3 and force the bars down until hooksf engage catches e. The lingers /i are normally held in uplifted position by means of spring H and can be rocked downward to reset the bars by means of a pull rope or wire 7L', extending down through the casing and around a suitable guide-pulley 7b3 to a pull /f at the forward end of the alley, as shown in the drawings.

In addition to the visual signals audible signals may be given when a target is struck by means of hammers fi, attached to bars F and adapted to strike gongs I in the casing when the bars spring upward.

While I have shown four targets in the alley, any desired number may be used, all being constructed and operated alike. The targets may be given numbers or values, so as to enable the game to be counted by points, and obviously the signals may be ot' different forms, if desired.

The size and dimensions of the parts can be varied to suit the pleasure of the manufacturer or purchaser. The number of balls allowed and the values given the different targets are also variable at pleasure.

The principle of the game is similar to that of tenpins. The player rolls the balls down the alley, endeavoring to strike as many targets as possible. If his ball enters any groove a c/J, it strikes nothing; otherwise it will strike one or two targets, according' to position. When a targ'et is struck, the audible signal is heard and the visual signal displayed. The balls all return by gravity and momentum to the forward end of the alley, and any displaced targets can be reset by pulling the rope or wire tg.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is*

l. 'The herein-described game apparatus comprising an alley, a easing at the rear end thereof, a series of targets pivoted in the front of casing and provided with catches, a series of vertically-movable bars having hooks on their lower ends adapted to engage the catches on the targets and pins on their sides, springsl for raising said bars, a transverse rock-shaft in rear of the bars, forwardly-projecting ingers attached to said shaft adapted to engage the pins on the bars to reset the latter, and means for rocking said shaft, all substantially as described.

2. The herein described game apparatus comprising an alley, a casing at the rear end thereof, a series of targets pivoted in the front of casing and provided with catches, a series of vertically-movable bars having hooks on their lower ends adapted to engage catches on the targets, signals pivoted in the casing above the bars, links connecting the bars. and signals whereby the latter are raised when the bars are released,all substantially as described.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own I alix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

GEORGE W. WALK. In presence ot?- GLARENCE A. STERLING, CHAs. H. JONES. 

